Agitator



United States Patent 1111 [72] lnventor Julius L. Lawrence I 55 0:1: 31., Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770 1 References Cited [21] App]. No. 786,013 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Filed Dec-23,1968 1,521,564 12/1924 Rogler 259/44 [45] Patented Dec. 1, 1970 1 Primary ExammerW1ll1am l. Pnce Attorney-Peter L. Costas [54] AG!TA \TOR ABSTRACT: An agitator is rotatably mountable in the aperl8 Clams 4 Drawing Figs ture of a vessel, such as a drum or the like for agitation of the [52] U.S.Cl 259/45, contents thereof. The agitator is slidable therein between a 259/122 sealing section and a flow section thereof to provide closed [51] Int. Cl. B011 7/02, and open positions. The agitator may be slidably and rotatably 8011' 15/02 mounted in a sleeve which, in turn, is mountable in the vessel [50] Field of Search 259/36- aperture, and a resilient sealing element may be positioned within the sleeve to cooperatively provide the closed position.

Patented l, 1970 Shut NM 9m ff w mm 1 v INVENTOR JULIUS L.LAWRENCE ATTORNEY Patented l, 1970 I 3,544,080

Shoot 2 6:12

1 v F|g-3 INVENTOR JULIUS L.LAWRENCE Fig.4

BY [Wadi ATTORNEY AGITATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As is well known, mixtures of relatively insoluble or immiscible liquids or solids are frequently sold and/or stored in cans, drums and similar vessels. Often the phases separate and the mixture becomes heterogeneous after periods of quiescence which will vary depending upon the specific materials involved. When it is desired to remove a portion of the contents of such vessels, the mixturemust be homogenized to obtain a representative sample thereof, and in some cases it is quite difficult to effect the agitation necessary to do so, particularly where access to the vessel is limited. This is the case, for example, with conventional 55 gallon drums, which have relatively small discharge apertures. Since it is frequently not feasible to agitate the entire vessel it is usually necessary to employ an agitator which is especially designed for use in such vessels if adequate mixing is to be achieved.

Vessels of the type referred to usually have caps or covers which are frictionally or threadably engaged over the discharge openings for the purpose of effecting a seal against leakage and contamination. This means that the covers must be removed frequently, which is inconvenient and often results in misplacement and loss thereof. A variety of valves have been designed which may be secured in the openings to avoid the necessity for removing and replacing the covers, but they are not convenient when it is necessary to agitate the contents of the vessel periodically through the hole in which the valve is secured. Generally, the valve must be removed to allow insertion and operation of the agitator as in the case of the cover it replaced. Moreover, if the agitator is used in the aperture through which the contents of the vessel must flow, it is clear that a portion of the contents will be lost during the substitution since drums of liquids are often stored in a horizontal position to allow removal by gravity.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for efficiently agitating the contents of a container, which device has a valve portion to provide a flow path so as to avoid the necessity for removing the device when it is desired to draw off a portion of the contents.

It is also an object to provide a novel assembly including such a device which is readily and conveniently mountable in a conventional drum.

Another object is to provide such a device and assembly which are simple in design, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of storage drum having mounted therein an agitator assembly embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the agitator assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the valve portion of the agitator assembly with the valve in closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same assembly portion along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the valve in open position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily obtained in an agitator for drums and the like comprising an elongated member having a mixing portion adjacent one end, a gripping portion adjacent the other end, and a valve portion therebetween. The valve portion has a sealing section and a flow section spaced along the portion of the length of the elongated member provided thereby. The elongated member is rotatably mountable in an aperture through the wall of the vessel so as to extend inwardly of the vessel for agitation of the contents thereof, and is slidable relative to the wall of the vessel between a closed position and an open position provided respectively by the sealing and flow sections.

. The sealing section is dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the surface defining the aperture through the wall of the vesselv in which it is mounted to form a seal therewith in the closed position, and the flow section provides a flow path through the aperture when in the open position.

The flow section may be dimensioned and configured to provide at least a peripheral portion lesser in cross-sectional dimension than that of the sealing section corresponding thereto, and the length of such a peripheral portion will be greater than the axial length of the aperture to define the flow path in cooperation with the aperture-defining surface.

Preferably, the agitator is designed for mounting in a circular aperture and the valve portion thereof is therefore generally circular in cross section with a diameter substantially equal to that of the aperture to provide the sealing action. In such an agitator, the valve portion desirably has an elongated recess extending'longitudinally along the surface thereof to provide the flow section.

When the agitator is mounted in a vessel having a top wall with a mounting aperture therein, a bottom wall spaced therefrom and a sidewall extending therebetween, the valve portion is generally linear and the mixing portion normally comprises an elongated element with at least a part offset from the longitudinal axis of the valve portion, extending generally radially toward the sidewall and longitudinally toward the bottom wall of the vessel.

Preferably at least part of the mixing portion is sinuous, and most desirably it includes a flexible mixing assembly comprising an elongated relatively flexible member and a relatively heavy agitating element mounted thereon. In the latter case, the flexible member is of a length adapted to permit the agitating element to contact interior surfaces of a vessel in which the agitator is mounted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an agitator assembly mountable in an aperture of a vessel com rises a sleeve or body element having a passageway therethrough which may be secured in the aperture found in the wall of the vessel, and an elongated member comprised of the portions hereinbefore described. In that embodiment the elongated member is rotatably mounted in the passageway of the sleeve for agitation and is slidable therein for movement between the sealing section, to provide the closed position, and the flow section, to provide the open'position. The sealing section is dimensioned and configured to effect a seal in cooperation with a surface of the sleeve adjacent the passageway therethrough in the closed position, and the flow section is dimensioned and configured to provide a flow path through the passageway when in the open position. Preferably, in such an assembly the sleeve or body element includes a resilient sealing element in the passageway, which defines at least part of a surface cooperating, with the sealing section to effect a seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Turning now in detail to the appended drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an agitator assembly embodying the present invention mounted in an aperture of drum 10, which is of conventional configuration. The drum 10 is also fitted with a valve 11, also of conventional design, by which the gross flow of the contents thereof may be controlled. As is seen in FIG. 2, the agitator assembly includes an agitator, generally designated by the numeral 12, which comprises a handle portion 14 including a hand grip 16, a mixing portion 18 and a valve portion 20. The mixing portion 18 includes an elongated sinuous element 22 attached to the valve portion 20 and radially offset from the longitudinal axis thereof by the generally perpendicular connecting element 24 thereof. It also includes a flexible mixing assembly, generally designated by the numeral 28, which is disposed generally parallel to the sinuous element 22 as the result of the return bend 26 therein. The flexible mixing assembly 28 is comprised of an elongated linear spring 30, a nut 32 by which it is detachably secured to the end of the sinuous element 22, two rolling or agitating elements 34 and two locking elements 36. The rolling elements 34 are free to rotate on the spring 30 and to shift axially thereon so as to follow the contour of the inside wall of the drum. The locking elements serve to retain the rolling elements 34 on the spring 30, and the grooves 38 in the rolling elements 34 improve the agitating function for which they are designed.

Turning now in detail to FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve portion 20 of the agitator 12 is seen to include an unmodified circular portion 42 providing a sealing section and a flattened surface 40 which defines a recessed portion with respect to the peripheral cross section of the unflattened portion 42 so as to provide a flow section. A generally frustoconical plug 44 is coaxially secured on the valve portion 20 adjacent the handle portion 14. The adapter assembly, generally designated by the numeral 46, is best illustrated in FIG. 3 and comprises a body or sleeve 48 which has an axial passageway extending therethrough. The sleeve 48 is generally annular in transverse cross section, and it has a small diameter threaded surface portion 52 and a large diameterthreaded surface portion 54. These threaded surface portions, 52, 54 correspond to the two sizes of threaded openings which are conventionally provided in the top wall of 55 gallon drums. As will become more apparent hereinafter, the threaded surface portions 52, 54 serve to mount the agitator assembly for operation in the threaded openings of such drums, and the hexagonal surface 56 is provided so that the assembly may be tightened therein, by use of a wrench or the like.

On the end of the sleeve 48 opposite to that with the threaded surface portions 52, 54 is an axially extending threaded portion 58 which has a circumferential shoulder 60 at the end thereof and an inwardly beveled seating surface about the passageway. A generally frustoconical sealing element 64 is seated on the seating surface 62, and a durable protective cap 66 is placed over the sealing element 64 with the side wall of the cap 66 bearing onthe shoulder 60 provided on the projection 58. The retaining cap 68 has an interior threaded portion 70 by which it is threadably engaged on the threaded portion 58 to maintain the sealing element 64 and cap 66 in assembly with the body 48, the cap 66 serving to avoid direct contact between the sealing element 64 and the retaining cap 68 such as might cause damage to the sealing element 64. The retaining cap 68 is provided with an inwardly beveled seat 72 which is dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the plug 44 which is secured on the valve portion 20 of the agitator l2. lt also has a hexagonal surface 74 to facilitate tightening by use of a suitable tool. In FIG. 4, the flow path 76 is illustrated and is provided when the valve portion 20 in open position with the flattened surface 40 alined within the sealing element 64, i.e., with the valve portion 20 shifted to the left from the closed position depicted in FIG. 3.

It is believed that the mode of operation of the agitator assembly described herein will now be apparent. The mixing portion 18 is inserted through a threaded aperture provided at the top of a drum l0, and the assembly is secured therein by threading the body 48 into the aperture utilizing whichever of the threaded surfaces 52,54 is suitable. With the agitator 12 in the position illustrated in FIG. 3 relative to the body 48, a seal is formed between the sealing element 64 and the continuous circumference of the circular portion 42, and between the plug 44 and the inwardly beveled seat 72 in the retaining cap 68. In that position, the handle portion can be oscillated, causing the agitator 12 to oscillate the mixing portion 18 and to thereby agitate the contents of the vessel. The flexible mixing assembly 28 enhances the efficiency of agitation since the agitating elements 34 may contact the sidewall of the drum and ensure that any precipitate or sediment is affected.

When it is desired to vent the drum to remove a portion of the contents therefrom, the handle portion 14 is simply moved axially through the sleeve 48' and outwardly of the drum 10. This causes the plug 44 to be unseated from the seat 72 and the flattened surface 40 to register in the sealing element 64,

thus defining the flow path 76 between the flattened surface 40 and the wall about the passageway 50. In this relationship, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the vacuum which would otherwise be caused by the material flowing from the drum 10 through the valve 11 is not created, thus improving considerably the flow characteristics of material from the drum. The contents of the drum 10 may also be agitated with the agitator 12 in the open position. The drum is closed by shutting the valve 11, and it is sealed simply by pushing the agitator 12 axially back thereinto.

Fundamentally, the agitator of the present invention comprises an elongated rod or similar member configured at one end to provide a structure for effective agitation of a liquid and configured at the opposite end to provide means for gripping and rotating or oscillating the agitator. Valve means is positioned at a location intermediate the ends to provide an open and a closed position within the aperture through the wall of the vessel or container in which it is mounted so that the flow of material from the container can be influenced or controlled.

As will be apparent, the configuration of the mixing portion of the agitator may vary considerably and will depend upon the particular type of container with which it is designed to be used and upon the various factors providing the best agitation therein. However, the mixing portion must be configured so as to permit it to be inserted in the vessel with a reasonable degree of facility, and for this reason it may be preferred to employ less abrupt angles; e.g., rather then forming right angles, the connecting element 24 in FIG. 2 may form an obtuse angle with the mixing portion 18 and with the valve portion 20. The design employed may be very simple, comprising relatively linear members or members having one or more simple angles or bends, or it may be more elaborate and include a series of relatively complex curves andloriangles.

ln addition, various attachments or auxiliary assemblies for reaching internal surfaces may be included, such as the flexible mixing assembly illustrated. Moreover, that assembly may be modified in various ways, such as by including more or less agitating elements or by using elements of a different design. Other flexible members may be substituted for the linear spring shown, such as a rubber rod, a wire cable, or the like, but it should be appreciated that the flexible member should permit contact with the surface of the vessel and yet be of sufficient rigidity to withstand the resistance provided by the material contained in the vessel. In addition to variations in configuration, it is frequently desirable to include heating means in or on the mixing portion of the agitator to warm the contents of the vessel. Such a modification is particularly useful when it is advantageous to. reduce the viscosity of relatively viscous liquids so as to facilitate their flow from the container.

Although the cross-sectional and overall configuration of the agitator may deviate considerably from that which is illustrated, the use of stock having a circular cross section most conveniently provides the valve portion of the agitator. Furthermore, although it may be easiest to utilize a substantially uniform cross section throughout the entire length of the agitator (except where modification thereof is necessary), the shape may vary along the length in a manner designed to enhance mixing. For example, flattened or projecting portions may be provided at spaced locations along the length of the mixing portion to disrupt fluid flow and improve the effectiveness of agitation.

The gripping portion of the agitator may be designed either for manual or for mechanized motivation. A simple handle may be provided such as by a right angle or other bend adjacent the end by which an operator may oscillate the mixing portion about the rotational nalj v, he winnin portion may include a connecting element for a drive shaft, clutch, or other member by which mechanical power can be transmitted thereto from a motor or the like. Moreover, suitably designed shafts, tie rods, etc., may be jointed with appropriate adapters to permit simultaneous operation of a number of agitators mounted on a bank of storage vessels.

Agitation will normally be effected by either oscillatory or rotary movement, and it should be understood that both types of movement are encompassed herein by the term rotation, i.e., rotation may be partial and need not imply movement through a full 360 circle. If the agitator is not used in an assembly which includes a sleeve or body element having a passageway in which the agitator is mounted, the agitator will be supported directly in the aperture of the container and will be rotatable and slidable therein. In such a case, auxiliary sup port means may be particularly beneficial, such as braces and the like adjacent the valve portion to engage the vessel, or means on the mixing portion to pivotably support it against the bottom wall of the container. If, on the other hand, the agitator is part of an assembly which includes a sleeve of the type hereinbefore described, the agitator will rotate about the axis of the passageway therethrough. To improve the rotating action and/or to protect the various parts against wear, bearing surfaces may be provided by metal or plastic bushings with the passageway through the sleeve. Auxiliary support means may also be included in such an assembly, if so desired. It should also be appreciated that as used herein the term aperture encompasses not only the holes provided directly through the walls of a storage vessel, but also the openings which are defined by inserts, sleeves and the like mounted in such holes.

Modifying the valve portion of the agitator to produce the flow section by providing an elongated flattened area along the length thereof as is shown in the drawings is a preferred embodiment. This is due to the simplicity of manufacture operation and cleaning, the degree of efficiency with which it may be used, and the minimal amount of clogging that is encountered with its use. However, that is not the only way in which the valve portion may be provided, and numerous other designs are possible. For example, rather than merely flattening one side of the valve portion to provide the flow recess from the periphery of the valve section a groove or like concavity of significant depth may be substituted or provided in addition thereto to increase the volumetric rate of flow through the flow section. Moreover, although the embodiment illustrated has a flow passage formed by modification of surface of the agitator, an elongated passageway through part of the valve portion may serve to provide the flow section. In such an embodiment, the outer end of the passageway will open generally radially and at the side of the valve portion. Such a configuration is necessary so that the passageway (flow section) may be sealed by the cooperating surface defining the aperture in which the agitator is mounted, when the agitator is moved to the closed position therein. Other designs for the valve portion may occur to those skilled in the art, it being required only that the design be such that it provide an open and closed position between which the agitator may be moved. It will be apparent that the flow section must be at least slightly longer than the axial length of the aperture in which the agitator is mounted since otherwise flow could not occur therethrough. As has been illustrated, it is most desirable to include a relatively resilient sealing element through which the valve portion slides to achieve the most efficient sealing action in the closed position. Although such an element is most effectively accommodated in the sleeve or body member of an assembly such as specifically illustrated, it may simply be provided by a resilient annular insert designed for mounting directly in an aperture of the material containing vessel. For example, a rubber grommet having an inner lip may be snapped into such an aperture to receive the agitator and function to enhance the sealing effectiveness.

As is also illustrated, a resilient plug adjacent the sealing section is beneficial to enhance the tightness of the seal achieved. It may be configured in any suitable way and should be fixed to the agitator at a location at which it can form an auxiliary seal for the aperture or passageway when the valve portion is in the closed position. Although desirable in most cases, efficient sealing, such as may be achieved with the resilient sealing element and/or the plug, is most important when the material in the container is sensitive to oxygen, water vapor or other atmospheric constituents.

The plug illustrated in the drawings serves the additional function of deflecting material passing outwardly along the valve portion from the drum. However, it may be desirable to provide a separate member, such as a disc or a plate mounted adjacent the sealing section, for that specific purpose, and especially if no plug of the type described is provided.

Although it has not been specifically mentioned heretofore, it should be apparent that the flow path provided by the agitator of the present invention may be used either as a true vent to relieve the vacuum which is formed when material flows from an otherwise closed container, or it may itself be used as the conduit through which the material passes from the container. This will depend upon the design of the agitator and its volumetric capacity.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a device for efficiently agitating the contents of a container and which has a value portion to provide a flow path so as to avoid the necessity for removing the device when it is desired to draw off a portion of the contents. The agitator device may be part of an assembly which is readily and conveniently mountable in a conventional drum. Both the device and the assembly incorporating it are simple in design, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to use.

I claim:

1. An agitator for vessels such as drums and the like comprising an elongated member having a mixing portion adjacent one end, a gripping portion adjacent the other end and a valve portion therebetween, said valve portion having a sealing section and a flow section spaced along the portion of the length of said elongated member provided thereby, said member being rotatably mountable in an aperture through the wall of a vessel so as to extend inwardly of the vessel for agitation of the contents thereof and slidable relative to the wall of the vessel between a closed position and an open position provided respectively by said sealing and flow sections of said valve portion, said sealing section being dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the surface defining the aperture through the wall of the vessel in which it is mounted to form a seal therewith in said closed position, and said flow section providing a flow path through the aperture when in said open position.

2. The agitator of claim 1 wherein said flow section is dimensioned and configured to provide at least a peripheral portion less in cross-sectional dimension than that of said sealing section corresponding thereto, the length of said peripheral portion being greater than the axial length of the aperture to define said flow path in cooperation with the aperture-defining surface.

3. The agitator of claim 2 adapted for mounting in a circular aperture, wherein said valve portion is generally circular in cross section with a diameter substantially equal to that of the aperture to provide said sealing section, and wherein said flow section is provided by an elongated recess extending longitudinally along the surface of said valve portion.

4. The agitator of claim 1 wherein said agitator includes a resilient plug element having its periphery dimensioned and configured to seal the aperture of the vessel with which the agitator is to be employed, said plug element fixed on said valve portion at said sealing section to effect a sealing action for the aperture in said closed position.

5. The agitator of claim 1 designed for use with a storage vessel having a top wall with a mounting aperture therein, a bottom wall spaced therefrom, and a sidewall extending therebetween, said valve portion being generally linear so as to extend normally to the vessel top wall when mounted in the aperture thereof, said mixing portion comprising an elongated element with at least a part offset from the longitudinal axis of said valve portion.

6. The agitator of claim 5 wherein part of said mixing portion is sinuous and extends in proximity to the side and bottom walls of a vessel when mounted therein.

7. The agitator of claim 1 wherein said mixing portion includes a flexible mixing assembly comprising an elongated flexible member and a relatively heavy agitating element mounted thereon, said flexible member being of a length adapted to permit said agitating element to contact interior surfaces of a vessel in which said agitator may be mounted.

8. The agitator of claim wherein said gripping portion includes a handle extending generally radially of said valve portion.

9. An agitator assembly mountable in an aperture of a vessel such as a drum or the like, comprising a sleeve having a passageway therethrough and an elongated member having a mixing portion adjacent one end, a gripping portion adjacent the other end and a valve portion therebetween; said valve portion having a sealing section and a flow section spaced along the portion of the length of said elongated member provided thereby, said member being rotatably mounted in said passageway for agitation of the contents of a vessel on which said assembly may be mounted with said elongated member extending inwardly thereof, said elongated member being slidable in said sleeve between a closed position and an open position provided respectively by said sealing and flow sections of said valve portion, said sealing section being dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the surface defining said sleeve passageway to form a seal therewith in said closed position, and said flow section providing a flow path through said passageway and the vessel aperture whenin said open position.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said sleeve includes a resilient sealing element in said passageway which defines at least part of said cooperating surface.

11. The assembly of claim -9 wherein said flow section is dimensioned and configured to provide at least a peripheral portion of lesser cross-sectional dimension than that of said sealing section corresponding thereto, the length of said peripheral portion being greater than the axial length of said passageway to define said flow path in cooperation with said passageway-definingsurface.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said passageway and said valve portion are generally circular in cross section with substantially equal diameters to provide said cooperative relationship between said sealing section and said passagewaydefining surface, and wherein said flow section is provided by an elongated recess extending longitudinally along the surface of said valve portion. I

13. The assembly of claim 9 designed for use with a storage vessel having a top wall with an aperture therein, a bottom wall spaced therefrom, and a sidewall extending therebetween, said valve portion being generally linear so as to extend normally to the vessel top wall when mounted in the aperture thereof, said mixing portion comprising an elongated element with at least a part offset from the longitudinal axis of said valve portion.

14. An agitator assembly mountable in an aperture of a vessel such as a drum or the lilreIcBYrTprising a sleeve having a circular passageway therethrough and an elongated member having a mixing portion adjacent one end, a gripping portion adjacent the other end and a valve portion therebetween, said valve portion being generally circular in cross section with a diameter substantially equal to that of said passageway, and having a sealing section and a flow section spaced along the portion of the length of said elongated member provided thereby, said member being rotatably mounted in said passageway for agitation of the contents of a vessel on which said assembly may be mounted with said elongated member extending inwardly thereof, said elongated member being slidable in said sleeve between a closed position and an open position provided respectively by said sealing and flow sections of said valve portion, said sealing section cooperating with the surface defining said sleeve passageway to form a seal therewith in said closed position by cooperation of said substantially equal diameters, said valve portion having an elongated recess extending longitudinally along the surface thereof to provide said flow section, the length of said recess being greater than the axial length of said passageway to provide a flow path through said passageway and the vessel aperture when in said open osition.

15. The assemb y of claim 14 wherein said agitator includes a resilient plug element having its periphery dimensioned and configured to seal said sleeve passageway, said plug element being fixed on said valve portion at said sealing section to effect a sealing action for the passageway in said closed position.

16. The assembly of claim 14 designed for use with a storage vessel having a top wall with an aperture therein, a bottom wall spaced therefrom, and a sidewall extending therebetween, said valve portion being generally linear as to extend normally to the vessel top wall when mounted in the aperture thereof, said mixing portion comprising an elongated sinuous element with at least a portion offset from the longitudinal axis of said valve portion,

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said mixing portion includes a flexible mixing assembly comprising an elongated flexible member and a relatively heavy agitating element mounted thereon, said flexible member being of a length adapted to permit said agitating element to contact interior surfaces of the vessel in which said agitator assembly may be mounted, and wherein said body includes a resilient sealing element in said passageway which defines at least part of said cooperating surface.

18. The assembly of claim i7 wherein said flexible member is a linear spring and said mixing portion is configured to direct said spring towards and into contact with the sidewall of the vessel, said spring being urged from its normally linear configuration to conformity with the sidewall thereby. 

